Take your kids on a day trip to Badaling and the Summer Palace!

Number of days: 1 day
Time: December
Average cost: 150 yuan
With whom：parents and children
Updated: 2022.07.31

As for this trip, after a small family meeting, my parents and I unanimously recommended going to Beijing. Beijing was our top choice, and so this day trip to Badaling and the Summer Palace was planned.

The Badaling Great Wall is the quintessential Great Wall, renowned both in China and around the world. As a landmark of Beijing, a visit to the Great Wall is a must-see when you arrive in Beijing.

Plan ahead and leave instantly. Transportation in Beijing is convenient. Take the subway to Beitucheng Station, Exit C, and board the train directly. A friendly and responsible tour guide in a green vest met us at the station. He confirmed our itinerary, provided important precautions, and offered warm reminders. We then boarded a comfortable tour bus directly to the foot of the Great Wall. We bought round-trip cable car tickets and took the cable car to the North Seventh Tower. We climbed to the North Eighth Tower (Haohan Slope) and then had free time to climb. The time spent in the scenic area was quite long. The climbing itself is the real joy of the Great Wall. For someone like me who doesn't like exercise, the difficulty was quite high, with steeper slopes. However, the views were expansive, and the steepest slope, at nearly 90 degrees, was quite thrilling. Please be sure to exercise safely when climbing! Remember to wear casual sports clothes and shoes to be most comfortable, otherwise you will be very tired when climbing up. Personally, I feel that the Great Wall is not difficult to climb. It takes about 2 hours to go back and forth, and it may take a little longer to take pictures.

Next stop: the Summer Palace. Known as the Imperial Garden Museum, how should you enjoy the Summer Palace? The Summer Palace, one of my country's four great gardens, was formerly known as the Garden of Clear Ripples. Built by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday, the Summer Palace is divided into three areas: living quarters, government offices, and recreational areas. The Summer Palace's highlights include the Hall of Joyful Longevity in the living area, the Hall of Benevolent Longevity in the government area, and Kunming Lake in the recreational area. It's best to focus on these three areas when visiting. "From the side, a mountain becomes a peak; from the front, a peak; from far and near, heights differ." For photography enthusiasts, rejoice! This is a true photo haven. Originally built on the mountainside, the view is expansive. Take in the scenery from afar, or take in the scenery up close, and admire each building. The diverse architecture and floral patterns are truly captivating, each frame a unique scene.

It's not just that. The overall trip was great. The driver and tour guide were both very helpful. I learned a lot. The tour guide gave me a car as a gift at the end of the trip, which made me very happy. I hope this little guide can be of some help to others on their trip to Beijing.